diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2026-01-15-03-36-16.gh-issue-143842.EZLutl.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2026-01-15-03-36-16.gh-issue-143842.EZLutl.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..4d5b1146463568
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2026-01-15-03-36-16.gh-issue-143842.EZLutl.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Prevent static builds from clashing with curses by making the optimizer
+COLORS table static.
diff --git a/Python/optimizer.c b/Python/optimizer.c
index a2a1feb8b9e147..c5f47d7f22c3f0 100644
--- a/Python/optimizer.c
+++ b/Python/optimizer.c
@@ -2009,7 +2009,7 @@ find_line_number(PyCodeObject *code, _PyExecutorObject *executor)
 #define BLACK "#000000"
 #define LOOP "#00c000"
 
-const char *COLORS[10] = {
+static const char *COLORS[10] = {
     "9",
     "8",
     "7",